The First Week of School

Many people are always glad to get the first week of school over with but I think it’s the second week that is the hardest for me. The first week is basically introducing yourself, reading your syllabus and such, but the second week is when the “real” school starts.

I have decided that my Criminal Law class is going to be EXTREMELY hard for me to teach myself through an on-line class and I really don’t think History is going to be much better, but it is what it is, and I must bite the bullet and stay focused. I guess when you really think about it a semester only lasts 16 weeks and in the whole scheme of things that isn’t really a long time at all.

I often wonder why we have to take so many core classes. I understand some of them but some I really don’t get the “big picture”, so to speak. Why do I have to learn history from 1400-1800 when I am a criminal justice degree? I could understand it if my degree had something to do with history but it doesn’t. The history of the criminal justice system is taught through my criminal justice courses.

I also have a hard time understanding why I have to take algebra. There is no part of my degree that is going to require my knowledge of algebra. Putting letters and numbers together in a mathematical problem just seems wrong to me. I guess that would be why math is my absolute worst subject and I almost have a panic attack just thinking about it.

Then there is English and oral communications. Okay, I will have to admit, I can relate to the reasons why I need these classes. In order to be a good professional in any field you have to be able to communicate well with your co-workers.

For the most part I am looking forward to this semester even though it is hard to get re-motivated after the long summer break. I think I will probably never take that long of a break again. I usually take summer classes in order to obtain my degree faster and I seem to stay more focused when I do things that way and staying focused and organized is a must when you do all your classes on-line. I should say it’s a must if you want to be a successful student no matter how you decide to take your classes.

Now that the first week is complete and I am starting the second I have to really get my game face on and buckle down. My youngest son, a big second grader, let me know this morning that I was so lucky that I got to stay home and go to school. Little does the little scooter know, school is not mommy’s ONLY priority and maybe he is a tad bit luckier than I in the fact that second grade is biggest worry. Well, school and how he is going to spend his birthday money that is. Aw, the innocence of children.